Observations Over the Past Few Days

NBC gymnastics commentator Al Trautwig is running away with the Gold Medal in the Idiot Olympics. If I listen to him too closely, I can actually feel a vacuum forming in my brain. It’s a real feat in a three-person gymnastics broadcasting team to make a name for yourself as the dumb annoying one. Way to go, Al. You did the impossible.

I’m not green, but I loved Wicked. It was phenomenal. There was plenty to love, from the crystalline vocals and hilarious verbal and physical high jinks of the two lead witches to the witty plot playfully adapted from Gregory Maguire’s book of a similarly wicked name. But among all the resounding harmonizations, glorious costumes, and spectacular satire was one detail that stood out to me for some odd reason: as the first act concluded in an explosion of spectral brilliance resembling Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album cover on Human Growth Hormone, Elphaba (aka the Wicked Witch of the West) belted out the final note in the rousing anthem, “Defying Gravity,” while suspended high above the stage, and all the dizzying beams of light that filled the entire theatre suddenly contracted into a single fading circle of burning light . . . the victorious viridescent face of Elphaba. Sure, my mind has been far more occupied with the myriad misinterpretations of the so-called political undertones, but that one moment of technical detail impressed me the most. I don’t know why. It was just cool.

Addison said this the other day: “I’m not going to hit you. I’m just pretending to cut your head off with my light saber.”

I don’t think there’s a big difference between the nature of the Creationists vs. Evolutionists squabble and that of the WrestleMania IV double disqualification bout between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in the 2nd round of the WWF championship elimination tournament.

3 Replies to “Observations Over the Past Few Days”

It was great to see you and Heather at Wicked and I enjoyed reading your comments about it. God has a pretty good sense of humor, sitting you two right behind us in that huge theater…I agree that the show was pretty amazing, my sister was seeing it for the second time and she was still touched (you might have heard her sniffling in front of you?) Hope all is going well with you and the family! 🙂

We Bare’s all had the “Wicked” experience in NYC in Dec. 2006 whileMike and I were living in that area for a short time. It was one of the best shows we’ve been to. The wicked witch character was great. The former SNL character (forgot her name) played her and she had a fantastic voice and her squinty eyes and sharp facial features were perfect for the role. Leah was pregnant with Cole at the time so earlier in the evening, she was looking a little green but for a different reason 🙂 Good times.Would love to see it in Chicago. The theaters are nicer (and bigger) here.

Despite dmick's and my desire to go out and sign a Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb-caliber starting pitcher to round out the starting rotation (for which there are compelling reasons for and against), the rotation is pretty much set 1 through 5 for the upcoming 2018 season. The Cubs' signing of Steve Cishek and Brandon […]

darvish deal is $126M for 6 years, source says. #cubs — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 10, 2018 So, it's finally happened. After approximately 40 months, Yu Darvish has finally made it official with the Cubs, signing a 6-year, $126 million deal. There are incentives that could increase the total take to $150 million, but the […]